Imaging of weight-lifting injuries

Abstract

Weight lifting is a popular form of exercise. Resistance exercises and weight training have been shown to have beneficial effects on both muscle and osseous development and maintenance. Furthermore, weight training remains the ideal method for counteracting the effects of sarcopenia that occurs during the process of aging. Competitive weight-lifting events have broad appeal to both genders, with participants of all sizes and ages striving to create higher standards in performance. Therefore, it is not surprising that the incidence of injuries related to the lifting of weights has been on the rise in recent years. In general, most lifting injuries relate to either tensile forces or compressive forces, with overuse contributing a significant component to the injury. Although some weight-lifting injuries are readily apparent at the time of the injury, it is noteworthy that most injuries are difficult to isolate or quantify either clinically or with the use of radiographs. In these situations, MRI is best suited for further evaluation.